Combination scraper with hand protecting means



Jan. 7, 1964 B. GERBER 3,116,502

COMBINATION SCRAPER WITH HAND PROTECTING MEANS Filed July 16, 1962United States Patent O 3,116,502 COMBINATION SCRAPER WlTl-l HANDPROTECTING MEANS Boris Gerber, 3807 W. Keeney, Skokie, Ill. Filed July16, 1962, Ser. No. 210,155 9 Claims. (Cl. 15-105) This invention relatesgenerally to implements or tools for manually removing snow, ice, or thelike from windows and more particularly, relates to a combination toolof the character described which provides a scraper and/ or a squeegeedevice at one end of the tool `and a hand-protecting handle formationincluding a glove, at the opposite end of the tool.

Although there are many window scraper and/or squeegee devices availablefor clearing ice, snow and moisture or the like from window glass suchas automobile windshields, insofar als I :am aware, there has been nosuch single device which includes means formed as a part of the grippingend thereof for protecting the hand of the user. Thus, when used forclearing snow and ice accumulated on the windshields of automobiles, theuser will prefer to wear a glove or mitt to protect his hand from thecold temperature and the ice or snow, which is to be removed. Veryfrequently, the user may not have his gloves with him when he desires touse the scraper and/or squeegee device and consequently his handfrequently is dirtied and exposed to the cold temperatures withresulting discomfort. Also, where the users hand is mitted or gloved,the glove may be wetted and dirtied during the snow and ice removal.Aside from such damage to good gloves or mittens, there actually is anelement of danger involved in driving an automobile with wet gloves ormitts since-the steering wheel has a tendencyto slip because of theresulting slippery surface of the glove or mitt especially where made ofleather. Where the glove or mitt is made of a woven fabric, the wettingof the -glove results in seepage through the fabric onto the hand of thewearer with resulting discomfort and possible chaling. Consequently, itis highly desirable to have a scraper and/or squeegee device whichalready is provided with means at the gripping end thereof forprotecting the hand of the wearer during use of the device.

Accordingly, it is a major .object of this invention to provide ascraper -and squeegee device for clearing window glass of snow and icewhich includes hand protecting means integrally formed with the grippingend of the device.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a combinationdevice of the character described which includes a hollow or shellformation at the gripping end of the device having an excess opening insaid end adapted to have a glove secured on the in-terior of said hollowformation for receiving the hand of the wearer during use of the deviceor to receive a gloved hand therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination device ofthe character described which is comprised of a pair of substantiallysimilar molded members of plastic material secured together-face-to-face, said device having scraper and/ or squeegee means at oneend thereof, and a hand protecting sheath including a glove or mitt atthe opposite -or gripping end thereof, and finger gripping means on theinterior of said hollow formation for stabilizing the device during usethereof.

Other important objects of the invention comprise the provision of acombination device of the character described which is very economicalto manufacture, which is sturdy and durable, and which is easy tomanipulate, said device also capable of eliminating the need for theuser to wear a separate glove or mitten during use of the device.

3,116,502 Patented Jan. 7, 1964 lCe The foregoing and other objects ofthe invention will become apparent as the description thereof evolves. Apreferred embodiment of the invention has been described in `detail inthe specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing. It iscontemplated that minor variations in the size, proportion, arrangementand construction of the parts thereof may occur to ythe skilled artisanwithout departing from the scope or sacrificing any of the advantages ofthe invention.

In the drawing:

IFIG. l is a perspective View of the combination device embodying theinvention sh-own on the hand of a user.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary medial sectional view taken along a verticalplane through the combination device as shown in FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of said combination device with portions brokenaiway to show structural details thereof.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference character 20 designatesgenerally the combination scraper and/or squeegce device with handprotecting means embodying the invention. As seen in FIG. 1, the device20 is worn on .the hand 22 of a user in an extended position ready to beused and it can be seen that the fingers and hand are completelyprotected. As seen in FIG. 2, the device 20 is comprised of a pair ofelongate plate members 24 and 26 secured together in face-to-facerelationship to provide the complete device. The plate members 24 and 26preferably are formed of a suitable rigid plastic material, although-other materials ysuch as wood or metal also may be used. Each plate -24and 26 has an elongate medial body portion 28, the contour of which asviewed in plan may vary within a wide range. At one end of the platemember 24 is formed a tapered or sharpened scraping edge 30. At theopposite end of the plate member 24 is formed an enlarged dish shapedportion 32 having inwardly turned lateral edges 34, one which is seen inFlG. l. The enlarged formation 32 is offset from the body portion 28 -ofthe plate member 24 by the bend .35 at the juncture of said portion 32and portion 28.

The plate member 26 has a similar end formation designated 32', likewiseoffset from the medial body portion 28 of the plate 26 and havinginturned lateral anges, such as flange 34'. At its opposite end, theplate 26 is formed with a groove or channel 36 in which is secured asqueegee member 38 formed of a suitable exible material, such as rubber,for instance. The plate members 24 and 26 are secured together face toface with the flan-ges 34 and 34 respectively abutting along facingedges thereof along the line of juncture indicated at 40 in FIG. 1.Although not seen in iFlG. l, a similar line -of juncture is formed onthe opposite side of the device. Any suitable cement or adhesive may beemployed although it is contemplated that an epoxy type resin willperform desirably for holding the members 24 and 26 tightly in theirconjoined condition shown in FIG. 2.

Thus secured together, the end formations 32 and 32 of the plate members24 and 26 respectively form an elongate, somewhat flattened shell orhollow formation designated generally 42 in FIG. 2. The hollow formation42 is open at the extremity 44 of the device opposite the operating endthereof provided by the scraper edge 30 and squeegee 38. As seen in FIG.3, the end portion 32 is formed with a lateral curved projection orextension 46 having a general thumblike configuration. Of course, theend portion 32' likewise is formed with such a thumb-like lateralextension. The thumb-like extensions 46 also are conjoined along edgesthereof to form a hollow thumb-like formation which communicates withthe interior of the formation 42 between the portions 32 and 32. Securedin said formation 42 is a mitt 50 which substantially conforms to theinterior configuration of the hollow formation 42, said mitt having acuff 52 extending outwardly through the open end 44. The mitt Si)preferably is formed of an inexpensive sheepskin or other untreatedmaterial which is warm and soft to touch. As seen in broken outline inElG. 3, the mitt Sil lhas a thumb portion 54 'which extends into `thehollow thumblike extension of said formation 42.

Referring to FIG. 2, the portion 26 has an upstanding, elongate ridge 56thereon between the end l44 and the bend 34 and transverse to body 28 ofplate 26. However, the formation 56 is located closer to the bend 34.The mitt 50 extends over said formation 56 approximately to the junctureof the bends 35 and 35' as seen in FlG. 2.

The device is easily manipulated by inserting the hand 22 past the cuff52 into the mitt 5@ secured in the interior of the hollow formation 42.The fingers of the hand can be engaged behind the upstanding formation56 for better and more stable gripping of the device. In this condition,the knuckles of the hand, not shown, may bear against the plate portion32 with the fingers gripping the upstanding formation 56. Thus, theformation 56 provides linger gripping means which cooperate with thefiat portion 32 during use of the device.

It thus will be seen that the device can be held stable and will not opon the hand during use thereof to remove ice and snow from a windshield.The hollow formation 42 provided by the conjoined ends 32 and 32 protectthe hand against snow and ice and scufiiing as result of possiblecontact with portions of the windshield or windshield frame. The mitt 56along with the cuff 52 keep the hand warm during use of the device. Itshould be noted, that the hollow `formation 42 prevents the mitt 50 frombeing wetted or dirtied during use of the device. Of course, the mittmay be permanently secured in the hollow formation 42 by a suitableadhesive or may be removable, the user employing one of his own mittsalready on the hand which is inserted into the hollow formation 42. Ineither event, the mitt or glove is protected from dirt and ice and snowduring use of the device by the hollow formation 42 which substantiallyencases the glove therein.

Although the plate member 24 and plate member 26 have been shown to beof substantially uniform thickness throughout the length thereof, it ispossible to form the flattened end portions 32 and 32' of lesserthickness so that a limited degree of flexibility is imparted thereto.However, sufcient rigidity of the end portions 32 and 32 respectively isdesirable in order to obtain a degree of strength and rigidity for themedial body portion 28 so that the scraper edge 34) and squeegee end 38can be properly manipulated.

Although only the end portion 32 has been shown Y formed with anupstanding finger grip formation 56, it is feasible also to provide sucha formation on the end portion 32 of plate 24. The device is capable ofbeing used on either the right or left hand of the user. As shown inFIG. l, it is the right hand of the user which is inserted into thedevice 2t). Likewise, the finger grip means 56 may take some other formsuch as a peg secured transversely across the hollow formation 42 on theinterior thereof. This is possible because of the abutting flanges 34and 34' which when conjoined along the edge 40 as seen in FIG. 1,provide a lateral surface on each side of the hollow formation 42, towhich a peg or bar `can be secured. It should be noted, that the hollowend formation 42 is entirely closed except for the opening 44 thereintoat one extremity of the device 20. As seen in FIG. 3, the sheath 42 hasa mitt-like appearance in plan View.

What it is desired to secure "by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A tool for removing ice and snow from window glass comprising, anelongate, rigid body member having means for removing said ice and snowfrom said glass integral with one end thereof and an opposite end forgripping said tool, said opposite end including a fiat hollow plasticsheath formation integral therewith having an opening thereinto, adaptedto receive the hand of a user and protectively surround the same duringuse of the tool, said sheath formation having limited resiliencesuitable for operating said means.

2. A tool as described in claim 1 in which said sheath formation hasfinger gripping means in the interior thereof substantially spacedinwardly from said opening.

3. A tool as described in claim l in which a glove member is secured inthe interior of said formation accessible through said opening.

4. A tool as described in claim l in which said body member is formed ofa pair of plate members of substantially similar configuration, securedtogether in face to face relationship, each of said members having saidmeans at one end thereof and cooperating mating halves of said formationat the opposite ends thereof respectively.

5. A tool as described in claim 4 in which said sheath formation has alateral extension thereof providing a thumb-like formation integraltherewith.

6. An implement for removing ice, snow or the like from an automobilewindshield comprising, a pair of elongate, flat members secured togetheralong the length thereof in face to face relationship, removal means onone end of said conjoined pair of members and combined gripping and handprotecting means integral with the opposite ends of said pair of memberscomprising, an elongated shell formation having an opening of suflicientsize to accommodate a hand therethrough, said shell formation adapted toenclose said hand therein during use of the tool and having a glovemember secured therein, said conjoined pair of members beingsubstantially non-flexible in a direction transverse to the lengththereof.

7. An implement as described in claim 6 in which said formation has ahollow extension of thumb-like configuration having the thumb of saidglove therein.

8. An implement as described in claim 7 in which finger gripping meansare provided on the interior of said shell formation.

9. An implement as described in claim 7 in which finger gripping meansare provided on the interior of said shell formation, comprising, anupstanding ridge on an interior surface of said shell formation.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A TOOL FOR REMOVING ICE AND SNOW FROM WINDOW GLASS COMPRISING, ANELONGATE, RIGID BODY MEMBER HAVING MEANS FOR REMOVING SAID ICE AND SNOWFROM SAID GLASS INTEGRAL WITH ONE END THEREOF AND AN OPPOSITE END FORGRIPPING SAID TOOL, SAID OPPOSITE END INCLUDING A FLAT HOLLOW PLASTICSHEATH FORMATION INTEGRAL THEREWITH HAVING AN OPENING THEREINTO, ADAPTEDTO RECEIVED THE HAND OF A USER AND PROTECTIVELY SURROUND THE SAME DURINGUSE OF THE TOOL, SAID SHEATH FORMATION HAVING LIMITED RESILENCE SUITABLEFOR OPERATING SAID MEANS.